Rhode Island lawmakers and Partnership for Rhode Island, a CEO roundtable led by the chief executives of Rhode Island’s largest private employers, recently launched CompeteRI, a strategic initiative that will help state agencies, municipalities, and nonprofits more effectively compete for federal funding made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Rhode Island is eligible for approximately $700 million in competitive grants from the law.
The Partnership’s board committed up to $250,000 to support CompeteRI. In addition, the organization will oversee an operational process that will provide agencies, local governments, and institutions access to professional and technical support to write grants and lead a statewide, targeted education campaign to inform key stakeholders about the specific opportunities.
“Our members and partners rely on safe roads, modern transit, and secure broadband,” John Galvin, Partnership for Rhode Island board member, said. “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can be game-changing for Rhode Island’s future. Our state’s infrastructure is in dire need of repair, and we must leverage this once in a lifetime opportunity to think long term.”
The CompeteRI team already has helped with grant applications the City of East Providence, Rhode Island Commerce Corp., and RI Waterfront Enterprises will submit to revitalize South Quay and the area along the northeastern edge of Narragansett Bay.